The Line Between Business and Pleasure

Score awoke the next morning on his back. He rubbed his right eye with his closest hoof and noticed something. He was in the bed alone. Or, at least, alone in that nopony was making contact with him. He was sure Sweetie wouldn't just up and leave without telling him so. Thus, an investigation was in order.

In an attempt to figure things out, he slowly, carefully, passed his hooves around, feeling for his surroundings. He didn't want to light up his echolocation magic in case Sweetie was still in the bed and not yet awake. His left hoof soon found the edge of the bed. However, his right came across very soft fur, which was interrupted by an equally-soft mane.

Rolling over to his right and moving closer, he soon realized what happened. Sweetie had rolled over to the other side during the night, and her back was now to him. Seeing no problem with this, Score very carefully brought himself up against Sweetie's back, laid a hoof around and across her chest, and got comfortable. There was nothing on the agenda today, so as far as he was concerned, Sweetie could sleep as long as she felt like.

This ended up not being a very long time, as Score soon felt another hoof give his a gentle squeeze. Sweetie stirred, stretched, and sighed, then pressed her back a little bit more into her bedmate.

"Morning, Sweetie," Score greeted, nuzzling into her mane.

"Morning," she replied with a sigh.

"You feeling OK?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Just making sure."

"That's sweet of you. How do you feel?"

"Are you still here," Score asked jokingly, pulling Sweetie closer for emphasis, "Then I feel great."

"You hungry?"

"Maybe a little, but you don't have to get up yet if you don't want. It's a great day to just be lazy."

"True. But I'm hungry."

"Then up we get."

Score released Sweetie from his grasp, allowing her to roll out of bed. Score soon did the same, lighting up his echolocation magic in order to see where he was going. Once they got to the kitchen, Sweetie began searching around for selection.

"Not much here," she commented.

"Yeah," Score replied, "Vinyl doesn't keep this place as stocked as she could. She didn't at all before I arrived. Do you just want to go out?"

"No, no," Sweetie said as she rummaged through the fridge, "there's enough here to make something. It'll just have to be made from scratch."

Score's ears shot up in attention. Sweetie could see his uncovered eyes were staring off into the distance, his mouth hanging slightly.

"Sweetie," Score finally uttered, "you are a genius."

"What? What did I say?"

Score hopped out of his chair and made his way over to the fridge. Sweetie still had a perplexed look on her face, but Score couldn't see that. When the blind unicorn made it to his destination, he jutted his muzzle out and gave Sweetie a deep kiss on the lips. Sweetie's eyes shot open, surprised by the sudden display of affection, but they soon eased blissfully closed. When Score finally broke the kiss, Sweetie was short on breath.

"You said 'made from scratch,'" Score explained, "That's what's going to solve all our problems."

"I'm glad you think so," Sweetie responded, "but I still don't understand."

"You will when I explain it to everypony."

Score once again pressed his lips to hers, this time not as deep and not for as long.

"And what was that for," Sweetie asked once the latest romantic moment ended.

"That was just because I love you," Score replied, making Sweetie blush once again.

*--*--*--*--*

Score and Sweetie weren't alone in the apartment for long. Soon after they finished their breakfast, there came a knock at the door. Sweetie went and answered it.

"Oh, hello Lyric," Sweetie greeted with a big smile.

"Where's Score," Lyric asked in a worn-out tone of voice.

"In the living room," Score called from the couch.

Sweetie and Lyric walked to the other room, Sweetie returning to the couch and Lyric taking the big chair.

"Score, I hope your morning has been better than mine," Lyric sighed.

"Man, Lyric," Score responded, "you sound like hell."

"You remember that mare I took home?"

"Sure," Score waved a hoof before his eyes widened suddenly, "She didn't rob you did she?"

"No. But when I woke up, she was gone. All that was left was a note saying she had a great time. No name, no address, nothing."

"Tough luck, Lyric," Score said, trying to sound sympathetic, "but you knew that was going to be a one night stand."

"Yeah, I know," Lyric sighed.

"Cheer up, Lyric. Just wait until you hear this great idea I had."

"What is it," Lyric asked, not sounding as excited as Score wanted.

"You'll have to wait. I need to have Vinyl, Octavia, and Lyra here too. Then I only have to explain it once."

"How long do you think that'll take?"

"Well, knowing Vinyl, she and Lyra are probably still asleep. And I know that Lyra will have a five-alarm hangover."

"Maybe we should go over there and make sure they're alright," Sweetie suggested.

"Not a bad plan," Score agreed, "Lyric, you in?"

"I'm in if it means I get to hear this idea of yours," Lyric responded.

"Then you're in. Let's go."

After grabbing the apartment key and Score's shades, the three ponies were off to Octavia's place. They decided to walk, hoping that the time it would take them to cross half the city would be enough for at least Octavia to wake up.

*--*--*--*--*

"Good morning," Octavia greeted at the door, looking as proper and chipper as usual.

"Morning, Octavia," Score replied, as he had been the one who knocked, "How are Lyra and Vinyl?"

"Already finished a pot of coffee between them. Come on in."

The three ponies entered. Octavia led them to the kitchen where the other two were sitting. Vinyl looked relatively OK, though with the under-eye bags that suggested not the most restful sleep. Lyra, on the other hoof, had her face on the table and didn't look capable of talking.

"What's up, my ponies," Vinyl asked.

"Score thought it'd be a good idea to come over and see how you two were doing," Sweetie explained.

"Well, now you know."

"How was your night," Lyric asked with an added eyebrow waggle.

"Let's just say," Octavia answered, "that if any of you had taken Lyra's bet, you would have lost."

Lyric and Lyra chuckled, while Sweetie felt the familiar tinge of warmth spread across her cheeks. Something told her she was never going to get used to this.

"What about you, Lyric," Vinyl asked, "I heard something about a bangin' Earth mare."

"Yeah, yeah," Lyric sighed, bowing his head slightly.

"What's up with you?"

"He woke up alone," Score explained bluntly, "no name, no address."

"Ouch," Vinyl responded, "But, those are the breaks."

"Why don't we talk about why we're really here," Lyric said, casting a sideways glance at Score, "Score said he had some kind of idea."

"An idea about what," Octavia asked.

"An idea of how to get back at Minor Chord," Score smiled.

"You sure you want to go there, cuz," Vinyl stated.

"Sure I'm sure," Score said emphatically, "Hear me out. Sweetie needs a label to sing for, right?"

"Right," Vinyl echoed.

"And Lyric needs a new job right?"

"Yeah," Lyric responded.

"So all we do is we found a brand new label," Score stated as if it was nothing, "Vinyl, you have the Bits to buy the equipment we'll need. Lyric, you always wanted to write song lyrics, well here's your chance. My hearing will ensure the best mixing of music and singing ever heard. And Sweetie will be out first signing and the voice that will make us big."

The other five ponies in the room mulled this over for a moment. There were a couple of glances exchanged while Score stood there paitently, unaware of the nervousness marking each of his companion's faces. Finally, somepony decided to speak.

"That is awesome," Lyra slurred, shooting a hoof triumphantly into the air.

"The Ly don't lie," Vinyl chuckled, getting out of her seat and walking over to her cousin, throwing a hoof around his shoulders.

"OK," Lyric said, "it's a good idea. But what are we going to call the label?"

"Already have that covered," Score replied, "Sweetie gave me the idea when she was making breakfast. We'll call it Made From Scratch Records."

"Made From Scratch Records," Vinyl repeated, "Dude, that's genius."

"That's what I said," Score smiled, throwing a hoof around Vinyl in turn, "So, are you all in?"

"I'm in," Vinyl replied.

"I'm in," Lyric stated.

"I'm in," Sweetie squeaked.

"I'm in," Octavia nodded.

"I'm in," Lyra exclaimed.

"Wait," Sweetie interjected, "Are Octavia and Lyra going to be involved in this?"

"Of course," Score replied, "We're going to need vast amounts of moral support."

"Consider yourselves supported," Lyra announced, finally raising her head from the table.

"Just one more thing," Vinyl said, turning her head to face Score, "promise me when we hit the big time that you won't change your name."

"I promise," Score chuckled, then added with a smile, "DJ Pon3."

This elicited laughter from the others, even Vinyl.

*--*--*--*--*

Eventually, everpony left the apartment. Seems Lyra really needed a nap. As such, the others left Octavia and Lyra's apartment and headed back to Vinyl's. Lyric split off toward his own place about halfway there, with the guarentee that he would start working on new songs as soon as he got home. This left just the three white unicorns present when they got back.

"Well," Sweetie said not five minutes after they had been back, "I should probably head back to the hotel. I've been meaning to write a letter to my parents."

"Oh yeah," Score responded, "I guess there has been a lot going on."

"Yeah. All that stuff about the contact I burned up, a new opportunity, a coltfriend."

Score chuckled a little, "You sure you want to tell your parents about me? We haven't even been together that long."

"Of course. Trust me, they would--," Sweetie abruptly stopped, her eyes and smile growing by the second, "They would love to meet you!"

"What?"

"I'm going back to Ponyville in a few days," Sweetie explained, "Score, you should come with me."

Score gave a nervous smile, "Well, uh, I--"

"He would love to go," Vinyl interrupted, "Right, Score?"

"R-Right," Score said, poorly masking his true emotion, "I'd love to meet them."

"Great," Sweetie took a step forward to give Score a kiss on the cheek, "I'm going to tell them. See you later."

"Bye Sweetie," Score replied, his voice returning to its normal calmness.

"See ya," Vinyl waved as Sweetie walked out of the apartment.

As soon as Sweetie was gone, Score turned to Vinyl with a cocked head and a raised brow.

"What did you just get me to agree to," Score exclaimed in an almost-whisper.

"What's wrong, cuz," Vinyl asked, shrugging her shoulders, "You like meeting new ponies."

"Yeah, but my marefriend's parents are a completely different thing."

"You were going to eventually. Better sooner rather than later."

"Have you ever met Octavia's parents," Score interrogated.

"No," Vinyl answered in no unusual tone, "We're talking about you, not me."

"You're insufferable sometimes."

"Trust me, cuz. Ponyville's a nice place. You'll go there, meet her parents, maybe some of her old friends, it'll be chill."

"But is now really the best time? I mean, we have a new label to work on."

"Relax, cuz. Take two days, maybe three. By the time you get back, Lyric and I will have everything set up. You need a vacation anyway."

"And here I thought this was my vacation."